Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Brunei eyes Feed-in Tariff system for renewable energy

It is most encouraging to note that oil-rich Brunei is also looking at Renewable Energy. The country is expecting to implement the system in the next 18 months to two years.

Earlier this week, Borneo Bulletin reported that Brunei is looking at the possibility of implementing a Feed-in Tariff system for renewable energy, and in particular solar photovoltaic.

How FiT system works: You sell back electricity to the energy producer. Image: bendygo

Feasibility study currently on-going

The possibility of a feed-in tariff system was suggested by the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of a Workshop on Policies, Feed-in Tariff Frameworks and Best Practices for Grid Connected Solar PV Projects at the Rizqun International Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The system, which would spur home ownership of solar PV technology, is essentially an economic policy that allows users of renewable energy sources to sell energy back to their energy provider – a system that rewards the use of renewable energy.

While underlining that this is still a work in progress, the minister noted that FiT implementation would give homeowners a personal stake in the development of renewable energy in the country.

The results of the workshop will contribute towards the process, as delegates will discuss the finalisation of the feed-in tariff, the policy and how to make it as friendly and easy as possible to implement.

10% of energy needs from Renewable Energy

The Energy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO), has targeted for 10 per cent of their energy needs to come from renewable energy by 2035.

A Smart Grid, which is a modernised electrical grid used to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics and sustainability of electricity production and distribution, would be a major infrastructure investment.

It was highlighted that a feed-in tariff system would contribute enormously towards the country’s climate change agenda. People will use less electricity as opposed to the normal way of burning gas, and that there will be more usage of renewable energy.

“If the feed-in tariff has benefits for the country and its people, we will do it.”- Dr Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the PM Office

TheGreenMechanics: Great start by Brunei Darussalam. Looking forward to it giving benefit the people and the nation, and the globe as a whole.